If you’re viewing this page on a phone or tablet, please turn to view in landscape mode, thank you. If you can’t see the list of services on the right hand side please page down for this and other events and information.

A quick summary of forthcoming events around the parish and benefice

As we start to prepare for Christmas….start here, it’s lovely!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM1XusYVqNY

Christmas Services

Details are in the list of services on the right. If you’re looking for the special services here are the highlights. All dates are for December:

ADVANCE NOTICE: Because of the cold weather, from January 1st until Easter all services normally held at St Germans Priory will be held at St Luke’s, Tideford.

WE EXTEND A SPECIAL WELCOME to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, gay, confused, filthy rich, comfortable or dirt poor.

We extend a special welcome to wailing babies and excited toddlers.

We welcome you whether you can sing like Pavarotti or just growl quietly to yourself. You’re welcome here if you’re just browsing, just woken up or just got out of prison. We don’t care if you are more Christian than the Archbishop of Canterbury, or haven’t been to church since Christmas ten years ago.

We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome keep-fit mums, football dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you are having problems, are down in the dumps or don’t like ‘organised religion’. (We’re not too keen on it either!)

We offer a welcome to those who think that the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or are here because granny is visiting and wanted to come to church.

Parish Contacts

Parish Priest: Rev. Canon Lynn Parker – main point of contact for all matters

Parish Wardens: Paul Gribble and Bill Woods

Readers/Licensed Lay Ministers: Richard Laugharne, Margaret Sylvester-Thorne, David Watters

For weddings, baptisms, funerals and church services:  Rev. Canon Lynn Parker, David Watters and Margaret Sylvester-Thorne

Children’s work: Rev. Canon Lynn Parker, Evelyn Reed, David Watters and Margaret Sylvester-Thorne

Messy Church: Evelyn Reed

For buildings and general parish enquiries: the Parish Wardens:   Paul Gribble and Bill Woods

For Safeguarding:  Margaret Sylvester-Thorne

Pastoral Visitors Team:  Pat Paxton

Parish Giving Scheme:  David Watters

Finances: the Treasurer, Fiona Liddicoat

Electoral Roll: Brenda Daw

Enquiries about individual churches:

Downderry:  Andrew Pidgen

Hessenford: Fran Moore

St Germans: Richard Laugharne

Tideford: Sue Merrick

Deanery Synod Reps:  Margaret Sylvester-Thorne, David Watters and Bill Woods

PCC Members for April 2019

Sue Booth, Fiona Bristow, Yvonne Byles, Dawn Couling, Jenny Daniel, Sue Merrick, Fran Moore, Hugh Parker, Andrew Pidgen, Tim Pullin, Evelyn Reed, Rosemary Stevenson

Hire and other info on St Germans Priory Church for events:

The St Germans Priory Trust:   www.stgermanspriory.info

Hire of the Church Hall in Hessenford:   http://www.4clubs.biz/timeslot/hessenford2/

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December Thoughts from Rev Lynn

Advent marks the start of the Christian year. It is the four weeks before Christmas, beginning this year on Sunday 1st December. The word Advent comes from the Latin ‘adventus’ which means ‘arrival’ or ‘coming’. This is the time for Christians to prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus and look forward to the time that Jesus will come again.

During Advent there are no flowers decorating the churches, but it is usual to have an Advent Crown or an Advent Wreath. These are made from a circle of evergreen plants like holly and ivy which symbolises God with no beginning or end. The evergreen is a reminder that God does not change, and the holly is also a symbol of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he was crucified.  Four candles are fixed round the circle, representing HOPE, PEACE, LOVE, and JOY with another in the middle representing JESUS CHRIST as the light of the world. Each Sunday a candle is lit with the centre one being lit on Christmas Day

Advent is an important time to prepare ourselves to welcome the birth of Jesus and also to think of his coming again. It is a time to pray and reflect on our lives and the lives of others in the world around us.

To help us in our reflections we shall be having two groups meeting through advent. An Advent course at 10.30am in the Methodist Chapel in St Germans on Thursday 28^th Nov, and the 5^th, 12^th and 19^th December.    And an Advent group meeting on Monday 2^nd, Tuesday 10^th, and Tues 17^th December at 16 Kimberly Foster Close, Crafthole.

Christmas will be with us soon – please be ready in spirit and mind to receive the blessing that comes with the birth of Jesus.

Every blessing to you and your families in this Christmas Season.            Lynn

~   News and Events in the Parish   ~

Community Lunches

The community lunches take place weekly on Wednesdays at 12 noon in St Nicolas Church, Downderry.

Christmas Community Lunch, Wednesday 18th December

Please sign the sheet in St Nicolas Downderry Church porch by Wed 11^th Dec so we can plan for numbers (or call Sandra on 01503 250798).  This is a lovely shared meal celebrating Christmas, so your presence is the most important thing you can bring.  There is no charge: donations are welcome.

Last year we had fabulous support and great company. There were many offers of help. If you would like to bring something along, or want to help prepare /dish or set up please write in the comment column or contact Sandra, then we can plan. Anything from a pint of milk, some butter or peeling parsnips, wiping up, setting the table helps make the day a joint effort but is not obligatory. Most importantly we simply want you to contribute yourself and join us in this celebration of Christmas.

If you know of an infirm member of the community who may need a lift to attend the meal or have a take-away, please let Sandra know.

There will be NO Community Lunch Wed 25^th December or 1st January 2020

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Coffee Morning  and Soup and Pud Lunches 2020

in aid of Parish Mission and Ministry

 Next lunch – Saturday 11th January

10.30am – 1.30pm

All in the parish and visitors are invited to coffee and lunch (home made soups) and to browse the local group and charity stalls.

No charge! Donations welcome

Charity stalls, delicious cakes and a variety of goods on sale

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Pub Theology

A chance to discuss ideas and thoughts about all matter of things theological.

After a short introduction of 5 minutes, the conversation is open.

Meet at The Eliot Arms pub St Germans, 7.30 – 9pm on the fourth Wednesday of every month.

Please note – no meeting in November or December, restart in January.

Topics:       Stages of life: a theological perspective

            For any enquiries or suggestions, ring Richard Laugharne (01503-230333).   All welcome!

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Messy Church

meeting in St Germans Methodist Church

changed to the SECOND Saturday of the month for December only – all welcome!

Next session:  14th December 10.30am-12 noon

Messy Church is a form of church for children and adults that involves creativity, celebration and hospitality – it’s fun!

If you’d like to help out please speak to Evelyn or ring her on 01503 230449

Find out more at https://www.messychurch.org.uk/what-messy-church-and-isnt

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Events at St Germans Priory Church

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9 Lessons and Carols with the East Cornwall Bach Choir

Wednesday 4th December 7.30pm

Other Parish and Benefice Events

St Germans Methodist Church – Advent Retreat

‘Have you Heard The Sound Of Angels’

2^nd December 10am – 3.30pm Buckfast Abbey – cost £10

Please phone Steve Gerrard on 01503 230403 for more details and to apply for a place.

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Services in our other Benefice Churches for Advent and Christmas

1st                               Advent Sunday

9.30am                        Morning Prayer                                   St Mary’s Church, Sheviock

11.15am                      Morning Prayer (BCP)                        St James the Great Church, Antony

6pm                             Advent Carols                                     St Mary’s Church, Sheviock

8^th                                2^nd Sunday of Advent

8am                              Communion                                        St James the Great Church, Antony

9.30am                         Communion                                        St Mary’s Church, Sheviock

15^th                              3^rd Sunday of Advent

9.30am                         Morning Prayer                                   St Mary’s Church, Sheviock

11.15am                       Morning Prayer (BCP)                         St James the Great Church, Antony

22^nd                             4^th Sunday of Advent

9.30am                         Communion                                        St Mary’s Church, Sheviock

11.15am                       Communion (BCP)                              St James the Great Church, Antony

24^th                              Christmas Eve

4pm                              Christingle and Nativity Service          St Mary’s Church, Sheviock

9pm                              Christmas Eve Communion                 St Mary’s Church, Sheviock

25^th                              Christmas Day

11.15am                       Christmas Communion                       St James the Great Church, Antony